Which device can enhance your experience better: a smart Set-top box or a Smart TV?
The market for intelligent gadgets is expanding at an all-time high. According to recent research, US citizens are becoming more interested in Smart TVs with each passing year. In the year 2014-2019, analysts found an interesting figure where most US citizens spend. Analysts estimate that the figure will reach $67 million by 2025.
Smart TVs are on the more expensive end of the pendulum. However, a set-top box is an inexpensive option. Thus, can a more affordable alternative, smart set-top box truly competes with the costly smart TV? This article will give a clear view on this subject without ado more confusion.
Pros of smart Set-top box
Typically, Android TV boxes have a few pre-installed programs, including the generally used YT for browsing free videos, the media player for watching out movies, and the downloading apps through Google Play Store. It's a rather straightforward arrangement. The remaining will require manual installation by the user. Android TV's app catalog, on the other hand, is substantially larger than that of Smart TVs. Thus, the advantages of Android TV boxes include the following:
Pre-installed apps are easy to operate as a user does not have to follow the manual for operating the app. And if these pre-installed apps are insufficient, a user can always make use of the manufacturer’s app store to extend the use of applications according to their choice.
However, the app selection is limited to those that the manufacturer has chosen to port to the platform. After two to three years, Smart TV software becomes obsolete and cannot be updated.
Android TV appears to be a far more enticing option in this sense. And besides, this is one of the most widely used operating systems on the market, and it is developer-friendly. As a result, Android TV currently has a library of over 5,000 apps, all of which are reachable via the pre-installed Playstore. Additionally, third-party programs can be installed on your Android TV set-top box. As a basis, it offers far more upgradeability than smart televisions ever could.
What benefits does a smart TV provide?
Smart TVs are intuitive and simple to use for newcomers. And these devices are so simple that a user hardly needs any technical knowledge to operate. Moreover, it also comes with pre-installed applications. These applications can be easily controlled with a remote that comes with this device. The user interface is so built that most vote it positively.
Comparison of the set-top box vs. smart TV
Thus, the primary benefit of a smart TV is its simplicity—only one control is required. To view something on a set-top box, you'll need two connections: one for the television and one for the media player. However, this disadvantage is easily overcome.
Your initial course of action should be to acquire a universal remote control. At first appearance, it appears to be a standard television remote. What sets it apart is that it features reprogrammable buttons that can be used to control additional devices, such as a set-top box, air conditioner, or audio.
The second possibility is to enable HDMI-CEC. This functionality enables you to operate your television and set-top box with a single remote, with the caveat that both devices must support it. To enable HDMI-CEC, locate the setting in the TV's settings. Different manufacturers refer to it differently:
LG—SIMPLINK
SAMSUNG—ANYNET+
SONY—BRAVIASYNC
PANASONIC—VIERALINK
Smart TVs are on the more expensive end of the pendulum. However, a set-top box is an inexpensive option. Thus, can a more affordable alternative, smart set-top box truly competes with the costly smart TV? This article will give a clear view on this subject without ado more confusion.
Pros of smart Set-top box
Typically, Android TV boxes have a few pre-installed programs, including the generally used YT for browsing free videos, the media player for watching out movies, and the downloading apps through Google Play Store. It's a rather straightforward arrangement. The remaining will require manual installation by the user. Android TV's app catalog, on the other hand, is substantially larger than that of Smart TVs. Thus, the advantages of Android TV boxes include the following:
- Access to the play store: Users can easily install any number of apps that they want to, including 4500+ apps, where 90% of them are free to install and use.
- Perfect Voice control: This is a key element that we don’t see in smart TV where the set-top box has this google assistant support, making it a universal choice among the urban class.
- Classic peripheral support: Most set-top boxes are compatible with the mouse, added keyboards, external RAMs, pen drives, hard disks, MicroSD, and more.
- Comfy price: Most Android set-top boxes with all the above-mentioned features have a fixed CP of $80+, whereas if you buy a branded Smart TV of 42 inches, it will cost you around $400+.
- Alternative solution: A branded as well as a non-branded set-top box can be connected to any kind of TV, an older version as well as a Smart TV, moreover it offers an over-the-top experience that too at a small budget.
Pre-installed apps are easy to operate as a user does not have to follow the manual for operating the app. And if these pre-installed apps are insufficient, a user can always make use of the manufacturer’s app store to extend the use of applications according to their choice.
However, the app selection is limited to those that the manufacturer has chosen to port to the platform. After two to three years, Smart TV software becomes obsolete and cannot be updated.
Android TV appears to be a far more enticing option in this sense. And besides, this is one of the most widely used operating systems on the market, and it is developer-friendly. As a result, Android TV currently has a library of over 5,000 apps, all of which are reachable via the pre-installed Playstore. Additionally, third-party programs can be installed on your Android TV set-top box. As a basis, it offers far more upgradeability than smart televisions ever could.
What benefits does a smart TV provide?
Smart TVs are intuitive and simple to use for newcomers. And these devices are so simple that a user hardly needs any technical knowledge to operate. Moreover, it also comes with pre-installed applications. These applications can be easily controlled with a remote that comes with this device. The user interface is so built that most vote it positively.
Comparison of the set-top box vs. smart TV
Thus, the primary benefit of a smart TV is its simplicity—only one control is required. To view something on a set-top box, you'll need two connections: one for the television and one for the media player. However, this disadvantage is easily overcome.
Your initial course of action should be to acquire a universal remote control. At first appearance, it appears to be a standard television remote. What sets it apart is that it features reprogrammable buttons that can be used to control additional devices, such as a set-top box, air conditioner, or audio.
The second possibility is to enable HDMI-CEC. This functionality enables you to operate your television and set-top box with a single remote, with the caveat that both devices must support it. To enable HDMI-CEC, locate the setting in the TV's settings. Different manufacturers refer to it differently:
LG—SIMPLINK
SAMSUNG—ANYNET+
SONY—BRAVIASYNC
PANASONIC—VIERALINK
After activating HDMI-CEC on your television, you must also enable it on your set-top box. Following that, you'll be able to control your TV with a single remote control—launching the media player will also power the TV.
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